Some ‘green’ products test positive for nasty chemical

Nearly half of 100 consumer products claiming to be “natural” or “organic” tested positive for a carcinogenic petrochemical manufacturing byproduct, according to the Organic Consumers Association. The products tainted with scary-sounding 1,4-dioxane came from various well-known brands, including Alba, Jasön, Kiss My Face, Method, Nature’s Gate, and Seventh Generation. Some of the companies said they would review their ingredients, while others lamented that eliminating 1,4-dioxane would at this point mean using alternatives that irritate skin or reduce cleaning effectiveness. They continue to work on the issue, says Martin Wolf of Seventh Generation: “We’re not there yet. We have more work to do.”